[HANASHIR:10452] An Interfaith Salaam

[LPKAROL <LPKAROL...>]

Dear Friends,
      On November 18, I participated for the 18th year (in a row) in the 
Community Thanksgiving Service here in Topeka sponsored by our interreligious 
organization.  That service has featured, for the last 3 years, a community 
choir.  It was my privilege this year to teach the choir and lead it in 
singing "Salaam."  They picked it up very quickly at the rehearsal during the 
week before the service - and then again at a rehearsal just preceding the 
service.   They felt that the Hebrew (and Arabic) was very easy and said so!  
The song was definitely a hit!!   I think the Muslim community that was there 
appreciated it.  
      I also did some comparative liturgy with the Imam that night.  In 
September, when I took part in a memorial service called by the Governor and 
the Mayor, I started my prayer with the Muslim phrase "In the Name of God the 
Most Gracious the Most Merciful."    I did that because the service almost 
had Jewish representation - it took one of my congregants calling the 
Governor to broaden the event.  So I felt like I should bring at least one 
other faith into my words.  After the Thanksgiving service, I told the Imam 
about that - he hadn't heard, and I asked for the Arabic of the phrase.  So, 
he taught me - best transliterated as "Bis'millah neer rachman neer raheem 
(with a very gutteral h!!!).   And I said, "You know, Omar, in Hebrew, that 
comes out - "B'shem eloah hechanun v'harachum."  He replied, "That sounds 
almost the same."  "Yes it does," I said, "Isn't that amazing!" 
        The more we share these words and prayers in the same place, the more 
-hopefully - we can engender understanding.
        Hope to see some of you at the biennial!
L'shalom,
Rabbi Larry Karol
Temple Beth Sholom,
Topeka, Kansas 
      

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